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Weekly UpdatesThe winter sunlight reflects off the large square panel newly installed in the side of the house as homeowner Kyle Gascoigne inspects the handiwork.
The tall black panel is the first of its kind to be installed in Sudbury, using a small solar panel at the top to power a fan which draws air heated by the large sheet into the home. The energy savings it's expected to provide will allow payback within five years.
"Energy-related retrofits really are the way to go, and I think you'll see them becoming more and more of a business issue as energy costs and environmental concerns continue to rise," says Gascoigne.
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Having been trained as a biochemical engineer at the University of Western Ontario, Gascoigne is keenly interested in these kinds of energy efficiency retrofits. Adding insulation to his main floor and basement helps contain 40 per cent of his house's heat.
He's such a believer in the potential of these technologies that he signed up for Cambrian College's energy system technology, program, where he's now a second-year student.
Gascoigne isn't alone in his confidence of energy efficiency retrofits, as ever-growing public interest is driving the growth of local firms such as @Home Energy, a competitive business division of Greater Sudbury Utilities (formerly Sudbury Hydro).
In 2007, the company expanded into energy efficiency products such as solar panels, which grew the following year to include electric thermal storage heaters, and SolarSheat panels seen on Gascoigne's home. The installation and servicing of the products, however, is done by qualified local contractors.
Interest has become so strong among local homeowners, heating and cooling contractors that the company recently added another staff member to its five-person crew.
In the coming months, the owner is planning on expanding outside of the Sudbury region to Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, North Bay, Parry Sound, and the Muskokas.
"As a competitive business, we're going to go wherever we see demand, and demand is big," says McCullagh.
The last few years have also represented a time of growth for CanSpec Inspection Services, a local energy efficiency consulting firm licensed by Natural Resources Canada to do energy assessments for its ecoEnergy program.
Retrofits are suggested following these assessments, which often include spending several hours testing elements such as heating, ventilation, cooling and insulation for air leaks and heat recovery.
In turn, the provincial and federal governments contribute up to $10,000 in non-taxable grants for efficiency-minded retrofits which fall under the program. This includes $1,000 for a solar domestic hot water system that meets regulatory. standards.
It's estimated that homes 25 years or older would save roughly 35 per cent on their energy bills if they followed the various suggestions outlined by the program.
This has found the company bringing staff levels up to eight energy advisors in Sudbury alone, with one or two advisors in other major Northern centres like Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay and Thunder Bay.
"We're being kept pretty busy," says owner Fraser Rees. "Things are moving along quickly for us, no doubt about it."
While cost previously stood as a major impediment to energy retrofits, the technology has improved in recent years, shrinking the cost and the payback time for homeowners.
This helps to entice homeowners who may have previously been on the fence about whether to make the investment. Concerns about the environment are helping to raise awareness about the product, but it's ultimately the cost factor that seals the deal, he says.
Gascoigne expects the trend to pick up beyond homeowners, extending to home builders.
"You'll see it as niche building in the short term, and as energy prices get more and more expensive, you'll see more home builders adapting these technologies and putting them into their regular building."
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By NICK STEWART
Northern Ontario Business
www.atHomeEnergy.ca
www.canspecinspection.com
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